Tool for handling retaining rings



Nov. 30, 1948.

R. FEITL TOOL FOR HANDLING RETAINING RINGS ZSheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1944 Nov. so, 1948. R; FE. 2,455,165

7 TOOL FOR HANDLING RETAINING RINGS Filed Aug. 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 30, 1948 TOOL FOR HANDLING RETAINING RINGS Rudolf Feiti, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Waldes Koh-I-Noor, Inc., Long Island CityyN. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 11, 1944, Serial No. 549,056

ing rings at their open ends with apertured ears or lugs, so that the points of pliers can be inserted into the apertures and the ring spread or compressed depending on whether it is of the external or internal type. In spreading an external ring so thatit can be slipped over a shaft and into' its seating groove, care must be taken in providing against over-spreading of the ring which might cause ring breakage or permanent set. Moreover; the disassembly of a spring ring which is seated under spring pressure in its groove is a complicated operation, particularly if a ring face abuts against the adjacent surface of the machine part held thereby, so that the plier points can be inserted into the ear apertures only the amount corresponding to the thickness of the rings which, for small rings, is correspondingly small. In such cases, the friction between the plier points and the edges of the ear apertures is not sufiicient to provide adequate grip on the ring so that it can be spread or compressed to lift it from its groove. v

The object of the present invention, stated broadly, is to provide a simple form of pliers for handling open-ended retaining rings which overcomes the difliculties in handling as above noted. More specifically, the invention contemplates and provides a plier-type tool of particular advantage in handling retaining rings of the external type according to'which the danger of ring, breakage or of imparting permanent set thereto is diminished, if not avoided entirely. Theinvention'also has for its object the provision .of a plier-type tool for handling retaining rings having apertured ears ;at the open ends thereof, by which a firm two-point grip .of the ears may be obtained. thus to facilitate spreading and thereupon lifting of the ring from its groove against holdingpressure exerted by the groove wall or an abutting machine part. A further object of the invention is to provide a plier-type tool for firmly gripping the ears conventionally provided on open-ended retaining rings and for simultaneously-limiting 3 Claims. (Cl. 29-223) the amount of spreading (or compressing) of the ring. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a plier-type tool provided with means for limiting the amount of spreading or compressing of the ring as aforesaid and which moreover incorporates means whereby the first-mentioned means may be so adjusted that one set of'pliers can be used in handling a wide range of ring sizes. I

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the following analysis of the invention wherein are illustrated in detail embodiments of the invention selected for simple description.

In the drawings -'Fig. 1 is a part perspective View of a tool according-to the invention shown in its operation of spreading a typical retaining ring of the openended type; P

Fig. 2'is a plan view of the tool partly illustrated in-Fig. illustrating the normal position of the tool and jaw points;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3-'--3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a View corresponding to Fig. 2 illustrating the tool points-in their spread position, Fig. 5 being a sectionalong line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and '7 are part plan views of a modified tool according to the invention, Fig. 6 illustrating the tool points in their normal position and Fig. '7 illustrating said points in their spread position; v 7

Fig. 8 is an-end view taken from the left end of the tool illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a part plan view illustrating another form of tool'according to the invention, Fig. 10 being a section thereof taken along'line l0-l0 of Fig. 9.

[Referring to the drawings, wherein like refer ence characters designatelike parts throughout the several views," Figs. 1-5 illustrate one form of'tool according" to the invention which is provided with working tips l0 and H terminating at.

their one end in points I2, l3 and being joined at their other end to operating handles I 4 l5. The tips are pivoted ina'frame I6 which is shownto be of flattened tube section, by'pins II, It so that movement of the handles towards each' other results in spreading of the tip points l2, [3. In the 3 tool, the frame 16 carries a centering pin or rivet 22 disposed on the tool center line, against which the adjacent edges of the tip normally bear under the urge of spring 20.

According to the invention,the frame I6 is provided with channeled arms 24, 25 which are disposed outwardly of and closely adjacent to the opposite jsides ofthe tips Ill an'dii i, the arms terminatingsubstantially at the workingpoints I2, [3 in jaws 28, 21 which are disposed outwardly and in the path of movement of the points. As' indicated in Figs. 2-5, the toolztips i0, I i move into the channeled arms as they are spread by compression of the handles 145152; i

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4; the jaws-22B; 21* provide abutments against which apertured ears as conventionally formed at the openrendsmf. aaretainin ring R are gripped as the ring is spread by the operation of inserting the tip points' lZ; l3

into the apertures of the ring and thereupon compressing; of; thehandles- :to spread% the work'- ing .tipse. Accordingly;v the. ears :ofithe, spread ring; are: firmly gripped'between thectOOl Epoint l2ian the 'jaw. 26;v n: the. one side; and: between; a. tool observed, moreover; that... thei jaws.'2.6';,2.|- are? spaced at givenrfixed:idistancerancihenceiunctionv to limit thezamount thatrth'eiring can :be spread. By a proper choice of the spacing between jaws 26; 21,-,overspreading of the;ringgasfis:liable; ,to result in ring breakagewonor. permanent set-thereof is prevented: 1

Accordingly; ..a tool 'aseedescribedr not only facilietates handlingpof. the ringi by; providing a firm two-point grip on the ears formedaati thesop'en endsi-th'ereof, whereby. thee ring: can be: easily liftedJ-fromu. its; groove-z against: forces i I tending? to. frietionally 'bincl'ithessameio. theasidesofsitsqseating groove or to the end face of tlrez-machina part held thereby, but alsooperatesin such mannena-si to: prevent"; overespreading. sofa theering; in: the normal handling thereof; duringcassembly-i'ordisassembly; a

Referring to the modification illustrated in: Figs. 6, .7 and 8;;thezworleing'tipsi3fl;- 3 Irare pivoted to "each; othen'atgfli and area-spread "by handles .33; 34, in manner. similar tor:the tooixpreviously; de'-- scriliech. against the :bias oi handle: springs (not shown): correspondingiozspring 2ili-(Eigsz12iand 4). The: ends; ofrzthe-tips; are-iormedias.pointsna'l, 38;- adapted: tosbesinsertediinto therapertures: or slots& of the ears conventionally formed at the open; ends oftretaini-nggringsiandthus functionin manner similar to theepoin-ts: [:13; shownuimEig: 1.. To:providerfonradjustmenti of: the spacing; be-

tween theiabutmentijawszcharacterizing-.the pres-- ent attach; the jaW-carryinga rmSMm 4 are pivoted! to the tips 30, 3| by pins 42, 43 and thus.havez angularr movement relatives to I the tipswhereby the? spacing betweenltheinfjaws- 44*;145'; may? bee varied. i As cshownrthe-means; forrimparting an:-. I

gular movementrtoitherjm memherseflafl lrmayrr comprise xazuemember 48, .tlie side2legsrof:whieh:

are securedzt'ozonezof thetjaurmembers zforrexamz plegjavw memb'emmr smth'atithe ll-memberz'stradi-i dies-i: th ee other: jaw: member: 44:; Thea cross bridgeipart. l4?! :ofsthm Ll+membenis provided: with: a threadedlaperture forrtheereception orb-0117748: at winged; headi; 453130" facilitates: turning: thereof}. The axiallposition or thezbolt m'ay be; adjusted: through irotation; ofzthe: winged head; a rlock;nuts:EOithreaded'ronT toz-the: bolt ,48 being? providediitorzseeure"the:latteiz-irr its;-adjustedposi tion. I

By thaatoresaidzanrangement, the disti late-beetween the side edge of the jaw member 4| and the end of the bolt 48 which determines the maximum spacing between the outer jaws 44, 45, and hence the amount that the open ends of the ring can be spread by the tip points 31, 38, is variable. Accordingly, a tool as described can be adjusted for use with dififerent size rings, through the simplenprocedur of: adjusting the bolt 48 for the maximum amount that-a ring of given size can be spread.

As with the tool illustrated in Fig. 1, the working tips 30, 34 according to the-present embodiment are centered by a pin 5| carried by the U- member.46Jon.tlie:1ongitudina1 center line of the tool and'extendingbetween the adjacent edges of thetips;

Inthe variant illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, wherein is shown a tool according to the inventioirprovided with another form of adjusting the distance between abutment jaws, the tool tips 6|], 8:1? arer-piv otallycarried at62 53 by a- :frame:membear. afi shown' to:be:-a rectangular: plate. The tips are provided at their working ends withzpoints 66: iii: and; are. spreadtby: handles 68, 69 secured tortheirr'other ends;v The tipssare centered. by 'a'. pinrlfl carried; by thee-frame; 64 to lie: om the::1on-- gitudinaircenter-line o-f'the-tooli. i

Jaw; carrying arms H 121" corresponding: to' thes jaw members-:;14-t oil the Fig; 6 modificaet-iomand provided at-theirrfree endswith. jaws T33; My are pivotallycarried by: the frame. plate 64': preferably by the same pins: E2,..6-3;whicn pro,- vide: piyota-lrmountingz' for thertips. 595x61.

Torprovide adjustment of; the angularpositionz ofi' jaw members 'H;-,,12rrelative tothetooltips: 61 ,thesframe: platefifritissslotted as .at 15 forthe passage: of. threaded: studs i6; 11: carried by the jaw membersz- 11,; 12;. respectively. to." project throughtlres-platesslot 15: (Fig..10)... Threadedfon: tortliev studs e15; TL aretsecuringvnuts I9; operating ate-secure: the lower: GIldS'OfithE jaw members inradjusted positionirelativeito. plate-tfi' l' andhencel to tool: tipsriifli' B l;

' By 'uniooseningrthernuts .19 .80;.the; jaw-smenrberznmayfbe moyed'about their pivots 62; 631an; amount;establishing:ithe:desired.distance-between th'e jaws 133145 theadjirstingvstudsr'lfi, TI travelingdnthep-latesmt 15" during sucl'riangular move-- ment... Thereup'om. the nuts 19; Bil-"are tightened torsecurethe jawsin their adjustdpositicn. Ac-

firm two-point gripping of the ring ears between.

theitip point-$665 S'lan'd 'the'jaws 13; 14.-

' ViFhi-leatlie tools: according to the. foregoing descriptiom are oil the-itype in which the tool pointsare-spreadto effect spreading of a ring-:ofthe externaifitype; either to seat 'it in its-groove or-toliiti'iti from 'tl'ie-ig-roovafor' disassembly purposes; it wil'l fb'eiunderstood' that the principleni the de scribed tooli may be; applied without substantial" modificationinthe desigrr of a: tool'for handlingrings-pfiitliednternal type; i. e:,. rings; which must be: compressed: in: order" to be slipped into the groove ofia; housing on'the'like.

Assmany'changes'couldbemade in 'carryingout" the: above constructions without-departing from.

thezscope ofithe invention, it is intended that: all) matters contained in the above description or show-min the: accompanying drawings shall be: interpreteckas illustrativeeandLnot ina limiting;

sen-sen.

Ilclaim'r:

. l2... pliemtypee tool; for: handiing: openaendedr;

retaining rings provided at their ends with apertured ears comprising a pair of uncrossed levers and pivot means operatively connecting said levers intermediate their ends, the ends of the levers to one side of the pivot means constituting plier tips terminating in pin-like working points adapted to be inserted into the ear apertures and the other ends constituting handles which are adapted to be brought together to spread the working points and thereby the ends of the rings, a pair of arms disposed outwardly of and extending closely adjacent to and along the opposite sides of the plier tips and in the path of spreading movement thereof, each arm being pivotally connected adjacent its one end to one of said levers, the other ends of the arms terminating substantially at the working points and being formed as jaws which are disposed outwardly and in the path of movement of the working points, and means extending between and operatively engaging each of said arms at points spaced from their pivotal connections to limit their spreading movement to a predetermined distance, said means including adjustable means for varying said distance as desired, said jaws adapted to engage the apertured ears of a ring being spread by said working points and to limit the movement thereof whereby each ear is gripped by a jaw and its corresponding working point.

2. A plier-type tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjustable means comprises a U- member afiixed to one arm and straddling the other arm, and an adjusting screw threaded through the cross part of the U-member to cooperate with said other arm and whose setting determines the maximum spreading movement of said arms.

3. A plier-type tool for handling open-ended retaining rings provided at their ends with apertured ears comprising a frame member, a pair of levers and a pair of arms having pivotal connection with said frame member intermediate their ends, the ends of the levers to one side of their pivotal connection with the frame constituting plier tips terminating in pin-like working points adapted to be inserted into the ear apertures, and

the other ends constituting handles to spread the Working points and thereby the ends of the ring, the arms extending closely adjacent to and along the opposite side-s of the plier tips and in the path of spreading movement thereof, the arms terminating substantially at the working points in end jaws disposed outwardly and in the path of movement of the working points, and adjusting means for spacing the arms a variable fixed distance apart whereby the jaws are effective to limit spreading of the ring and to provide abutments against which the edges of the ring ears are adapted to be gripped when the ring is spread as aforesaid, said spacing means comprising adjusting screws carried by the other ends of said arms, said screws extending through a slot provided in the frame member, and securing nuts cooperating with said screws for securing said arms in desired adjusted position to the frame along the length of the slot.

RUDOLF FEITL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 753,224 Bernard Mar. 1, 1 1,319,007 Kind Oct. 14, 1919 1,718,488 Renaud June 29, 1925 1,983,965 Berkman Dec. 11, 1934 1,995,165 Anderson Mar. 19, 1935 2,195,216 -Kulp Mar. 26, 1940 2,324,468 Brickman July 20, 1943 2,367,552 Ahrndt Jan. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 683,072 France June 5, 1930 711,633 France Sept. 14, 1931 

